Jaundice and TN Medical Malpractice Risks
Those who have had children are familiar with the word “jaundice.” Jaundice is typically associated with a child having yellowish skin.
Jaundice is also called “hyperbilirubinemia,” which means that there is an excess amount of the protein bilirubin in the newborn’s blood. Normally the condition is harmless, but sometimes, when there is too much bilirubin in the system, there is a chance that the infant will develop Kernicterus, which is a type of brain damage associated with neurological impairments leading to cerebral palsy, deafness, and various learning disabilities.
All newborn babies are at risk for jaundice—particularly premature babies, males, breastfed babies, and infants of Asian descent. Given the sheer number of children who are at risk, the medical community has uniformly adopted a standard to check bilirubin levels at least once after a child’s birth. Abnormal test results should alert healthcare providers to closely monitor the baby while the baby is still in the hospital. Prior to discharge from the hospital, the healthcare provider should provide proper instructions to the child’s parents. In particular, the parents should be instructed about the dangers and signs of jaundice.
When jaundice is discovered in the infant, the child is typically placed under UV lights. The child should then be carefully monitored to make sure that bilirubin levels drop. After discharge, the child should be monitored by blood tests taken within two days after the newborn’s discharge from the hospital. If bilirubin levels have dropped to safe levels, then no further treatment is necessary. However, if the levels go up, the baby may need to be readmitted to the hospital for further testing and treatment.
If diagnosed early, jaundice rarely presents any difficulty for the infant and family. When nurses, pediatricians and other responsible healthcare providers, however, fail to timely recognize the signs and symptoms of jaundice and/or fail to timely perform proper tests and follow-up examinations, the condition may worsen and result in permanent brain damage to the infant.
The skilled Knoxville medical malpractice attorneys at Baker Associates have the knowledge and skills necessary to represent families whose child suffers from brain damage occurring as a result of failure to properly diagnose or timely treat hyperbilirubinemia. Let us help you learn more about your legal options by calling one our attorneys to schedule your free, no-strings case evaluation. Dial 866-853-2888 today.
